Texas reshaped its roster, staff and identity around Steve Sarkisian’s vision. Now the Longhorns enter 2026 with one question: can he finish the job?
Texas football spent the offseason acting like a program that knows exactly what it wants.
Now Steve Sarkisian has to prove he built the right team to get there.
The Longhorns enter 2026 with legitimate national championship expectations, and virtually every major offseason decision traces back to Sarkisian’s blueprint.
Texas moved on from defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and brought in Will Muschamp, reshaped the running back room, added Cam Coleman at receiver and attacked the offensive line through the portal.
This wasn’t cosmetic change, it was a full commitment.
Texas let familiar names walk and bet on upgrades like Raleek Brown, Hollywood Smothers, Melvin Siani and Laurence Seymore.
The idea is obvious ... surround Arch Manning with more explosive pieces, fix the protection issues that dragged down the offense last season and tighten up a defense that too often looked disconnected in the secondary.
That’s the plan. Whether it works is another matter.
The biggest gamble may be Sarkisian’s decision to remain the offensive play caller.
Texas had stretches last season where the offense looked ordinary despite having elite talent.
Protection problems, drops, penalties and an inconsistent rushing attack kept the Longhorns from becoming the machine many expected.
Sarkisian could’ve handed play-calling duties to someone else.
He didn’t.
That puts even more of 2026 directly on him.
And there’s a strong argument that it should. Sarkisian is still one of the sharpest offensive minds in college football.
If Muschamp’s presence allows him to spend more energy on the offense, and the new personnel upgrades are real, Texas could become considerably more dangerous.
The pressure comes from what happens if those bets miss.
What if the interior offensive line still gets pushed around? What if the secondary issues remain? What if Manning misses time and KJ Lacey has to start a major game? What happens if Texas is staring down Georgia with an SEC championship on the line?
Those are no longer roster questions.
They’re Sarkisian questions.
Texas has invested too much and changed too much for 2026 to feel like another developmental season. This roster was assembled to win now.
That doesn’t necessarily mean championship-or-bust.
But it’s awfully close.
Sarkisian deserves enormous credit for turning Texas back into a national contender.
Now comes the part that determines how this era is remembered.
He built the roster. He picked the staff. He kept the play sheet.
If Texas is going to finish the climb, Sarkisian has to be the reason why.
